ISBN: 0684835509

Found in 9 comments

by jamesrcole

2017-06-17

Copying and pasting from a comment of mine from another thread:

There's some good reasons try colonizing Mars:

* It would be a significant challenge (like going to the Moon was), and (as there is lots of historical evidence for) innovation comes from people working on hard problems. So it would lead to innovations

* It would inspire a generation to be more interested in areas like science and technology (also like with going to the Moon)

* The fresh start of a new planet would provide the opportunity for people to try out new forms of social structure. The founding of the USA is a historical example of this. Broken systems and structures is a big problem on earth right now.

* Ultimately if humanity only exists on a single planet, then it's at great risk of being wiped out by some catastrophe. Getting off earth is important for our future existence.

> the idea of colonising Mars even though I'm completely aware that rationally it is a completely daft idea.

Here's some rational reasons for why it's a good idea:

* It would be a challenge, and (as there is lots of historical evidence for) innovation comes from people working on hard problems. So it would lead to innovations

* It would inspire a generation to be more interested in areas like science and technology

* The fresh start of a new planet would provide the opportunity for people to try out new forms of social structure. The founding of the USA is a historical example of this. Broken systems and structures is a big problem on earth right now.

* Ultimately if humanity only exist on a single planet, then it's at great risk of being wiped out by some catastrophe. Getting off earth is important for our future existence.